ON AUGUST 29, the government submitted the budget plan for 2024 to the National Assembly, which included a significant reduction in the budget for the Research and Development (R&D) sector. The R&D sector provides annual funding to support research and develop national strategic technologies such as semiconductors, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Next year's R&D budget is set at ₩25.9 trillion, down 16.6%, or ₩5.2 trillion, from this year's[1]. The government’s decision is receiving significant backlash, as it directly affects the research and education sector that is closely aligned with students’ careers and the country’s future. The budget cut will exert a discernible influence on Yonsei University students as well, especially those pursuing scientific research.

The reasons behind budget adjustments

   The South Korean government has proposed an expenditure of approximately ₩657 trillion in next year's overall budget, marking a modest 2.8% increase from the current year. During the Cabinet meeting on August 29, Minister Choo Kyung-ho of the Ministry of Economy and Finance explained that this planned increment stands as the smallest rise since 2005. This decision reflects efforts to achieve fiscal stability, as the national debt rose by ₩400 trillion under the previous Moon administration and, for the first time, surpassed a total of ₩1 quadrillion last year. Choo emphasized that fiscal consolidation extends beyond just spending reductions and hinges on directing funds to essential areas without wastage. The Yoon administration, ultimately, aims to stabilize inflationary tendencies and avoid burdening future generations with insurmountable debts[1].

   Among the 12 major sectors, the R&D sector has faced the steepest cutback. When compared to the 2023 budgets, budgets for the regional administration sector were cut by 0.8%, education by 6.9%, and R&D by 16.6%[2]. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) cited the inefficiency of the existing R&D budget allocation as a reason for the reductions. MSIT Minister Lee Jong-ho commented that this change will eliminate so-called "R&D cartels," and further clarified that R&D projects will each be evaluated and the bottom 20% of projects will undergo budget deductions[3]. Researchers and students, especially in the science field, have criticized Lee and the Yoon administration for their vague and unreasonable justifications for the cutback.

The impact on Yonsei

   The decrease in the R&D budget directly impacts the research funding at Yonsei University, as the majority of such funding comes from government support. According to Yonsei University’s Office of Research Affairs, the percentage of government support for research grants on Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus was 71.27% in 2020, 67.22% in 2021, and 70.48% in 2022[4]. The substantial decrease in the university's research funding will have a direct impact on student labor expenses. Research activity expenses, which cover essential materials, research paper publications, and conference attendance fees, are difficult to reduce as they are largely fixed costs. Therefore, labor expenses, which involve paying undergraduate and graduate students for lab research, are likely to be the primary target for cuts. This will present financial difficulties for students as many already rely on part-time jobs to support their research. Additionally, reducing financial labor support means staff reduction, mainly student researchers and lab assistants. Ultimately, the decrease in the number of staff will hinder the university's ability to conduct research effectively.

Yonsei’s response

   Student bodies of Yonsei University and ten other academic institutions—including Seoul National University (SNU) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)—have joined forces to oppose the R&D budget cuts. Under the title “Joint Action for University Students to Respond to R&D Budget Cuts,” they issued a joint statement on October 30 criticizing the government’s decision and citing concerns about student labor costs and national competitiveness. The statement argues that these cuts were made without proper communication and have stirred resentment among researchers and students. The lack of discussion in the budget decision-making process is seen as counterproductive as it results in cuts to education and research activities that are crucial for the country's future. The joint statement has claimed that many talented individuals have lost faith in the future of Korea’s R&D sector and are now considering abandoning their dreams of research or turning to pursue academia abroad. The student unions have demanded that the government scrap the 2024 R&D budget proposal, restart the budget allocation process, and henceforth ensure full communication with universities and research institutes. They believe that innovation in science and technology is vital for Korea's economic growth and that the government's hasty budget cuts contradict its mission of preparing for the future[5].

Discussions for the future

   The collective student voice was heard by the government and consequently opened up a floor for discussion. On November 13, a debate for university students in response to the R&D budget cut was conducted in the National Assembly Hall. During the discussion, the joint 11 student bodies presented 5 demands to the government. The demands are to: cancel the R&D budget proposal that was cut without communication or review; restore the trust of students and research institutions now destroyed by the cuts; fulfill the Yoon administration’s promise of maintaining the R&D budget size at 5% of total government expenditure; establish communication and consultation bodies with students and research sites; and actively communicate with students and research sites in the process of adjusting the R&D budget for the next year[5]. 

   As the debate continued, Na Se-min, the vice chair of the R&D Special Committee of the Seoul National University General Student Council, reported that in a survey involving all sciences and humanities students, 85.1% expressed a highly unfavorable view toward the budget cut. Na urged for a full restoration of the R&D budget and emphasized the need for improved communication in the policy-making process. Hong Seok-hyun, the vice chairman of Yonsei’s Emergency Exigency Committee, disclosed that at Yonsei, 97.7% of students opposed the R&D budget cuts in a recent survey, with many even reconsidering their career plans in the sciences. The representative of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, Cho Seung-rae, responded that creating an environment where young researchers can concentrate on their work is of high importance and pledged to ensure that students’ voices will be taken into account in a future budget review[6].

   In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, Hong expressed looking forward to the reflection of the five demands in the next year’s budget. As for future plans, he will continue to attend ongoing representative meetings of the “Joint Action for University Students to Respond to R&D Budget Cuts” and also attend a meeting that is co-hosted by Yonsei University and SNU's Graduate Student Council. If needed, he will initiate additional media interviews and press conferences to voice students’ opinions. Whether a transformative change takes place remains a question awaiting the verdict of time.

[1] Yonhap News Agency

[2] Korea JoongAng Daily

[3] The Chosun Ilbo

[4] Yonsei University

[5] Chosun Biz

[6] Edaily